Jomsom, July 23: More than 11,800 foreign trekkers crossed the iconic Thorong La Pass on the Annapurna Circuit during the last fiscal year 2025/26, reaffirming its status as one of Nepal’s most popular high-altitude trekking destinations.
According to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Area Office in Jomsom, a total of 11,806 foreign trekkers entered Mustang via the 5,416-metre Thorong La Pass during the 2025/26 fiscal year. The visitors included 404 trekkers from SAARC countries—325 men and 79 women—and 11,400 trekkers from other countries, comprising 6,446 men and 4,954 women. Two additional visitors were recorded under other nationalities.
Rajesh Gupta, Chief of the ACAP Area Office in Jomsom, said the trail remains active throughout the year, including during the winter season. “Foreign trekkers continue to use this route even in winter. The number of Nepali trekkers has also been increasing, although domestic visitors are not officially recorded,” he said.
Thorong La, the highest point on the Annapurna Circuit, is widely regarded as one of Nepal’s most challenging and rewarding high-altitude trekking passes. The trekking route also generated employment for 5,739 porters during the year, excluding trekking guides.
Traditionally, completing the full Annapurna Circuit from Besisahar in Lamjung to Thorong La took around 21 days. However, expanding road networks have shortened the journey to approximately one week, enabling many international trekkers to complete the circuit before continuing to other trekking destinations.
The classic route ascends through Yak Kharka, Ledar, Thorong Phedi, and Thorong High Camp in Manang before descending to Muktinath in Mustang. According to Raju Lalchan, President of the Mustang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Tilicho Lake–Thorong La–Muktinath route remains one of Nepal’s most adventurous trekking experiences.
He expressed concern that road construction along sections of the traditional trekking trail has shortened visitors’ stays in the region. “Road expansion has reduced parts of the original trail and shortened the trekking experience. If we want visitors to spend more time in Mustang, road development along the classic trekking route should be limited,” Lalchan said.
He also stressed the need to improve tourism infrastructure at Yak Kharka, Thorong Phedi, and Thorong High Camp to enhance the overall trekking experience. Besides Thorong La, Mustang is connected to two other major trekking routes—the Dhaulagiri Circuit, linking Marpha with Myagdi via the Dhaulagiri region, and the Saribung Pass, which connects Upper Mustang with Manang near the Nepal–Tibet border.
Among these routes, Thorong La remains the busiest. The pass was opened to international trekkers in 1970 and has since become one of Nepal’s most iconic trekking destinations. #nepal
